The Center for
Philippine Studies (originally Philippine Studies Program) was established
in 1975 in recognition of the faculty strength and other academic
resources on the Philippines at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and of
the contributions of Filipinos to the development of Hawai‘i. One of the
nine area studies centers at the UHM School of Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific
Studies, it is the only academic institution in the United States offering
Philippine studies degree programs complemented by research and outreach
activities. The Center’s resources are strengthened by the strong links
that exist with the Ilocos region in academic areas including research,
student exchange, exchange of publications, international conferences,
faculty enrichment, and library acquisition trips, through the Center for
Philippine Studies and several departmental faculty whose academic
interests and expertise lie in this area.

In the 1980’s
faculty teaching Ilokano language and Austronesian languages took students
on a field study trip to Ilocos. Later in the 1990s, the Center for
Philippine Studies director, the Asia Collection Philippine librarian, and
the Ethnic Studies department faculty affiliated with Philippine Studies
went to Ilocos Sur and to the University of the Northern Philippines to
purchase Ilokano research publications and promote exchange of academic
resources between the University of Hawai‘i and the University of the
Northern Philippines. Subsequent book acquisition and academic trips have
been made by UH faculty and staff to the Ilocos and Cordillera regions.

Even without
formal institutional relationships, UHM has maintained strong academic
ties with universities in various parts of the northern Philippines.
These ties have been developed and nurtured because of individual faculty
who are in contact with colleagues at major institutions in the region and
are working on projects involving Ilokano culture, language and related
areas.

In July 2002, an adjunct UHM faculty
member/EWC researcher visited in the Ilocos region and was asked to
explore interest on the part of universities in the region in
collaborating with UH. The following information was shared:

·The University of the
Philippines (UP) at Baguio (already a partner institution) was very
interested in arranging collaborative courses with students at UH and UP
doing common readings possibly in the fields of anthropology, Philippine
studies, and others to be explored.

·A visit to Don Mariano
Marcos State University in Ilocos Norte found faculty very interested in
joint collaboration.

·Unable to visit the
University of the Northern Philippines but contact names were obtained so
that UH can easily pursue interest there as well.

Future Plans

Further exploration
between the University of the Northern Philippines and the University of
Hawai‘i could serve to identify areas for collaboration given respective
fields of compatibility and excellence.

Action:
The Office of International Affairs will commit funds to send a UH faculty
delegation on a fact-finding trip to Ilocos Sur in calendar year 2003 in
order to explore means of collaboration where feasible.

Areas for possible
collaboration could include:

·Area
and language studies, especially Ilokano and regional languages

·
Distance or on-line courses jointly taught by faculty in both countries

·
Culture and heritage studies for students of Filipino ancestry

Historic and cultural preservation (Vigan
has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO)

·
Studies on northern Luzon and its role in major historical events like the
1896 Philippine revolution

·
Tropical Agriculture

·
Tourism and travel industry

The UHM Center for Philippine Studies,
which was created by the Hawai‘i State Legislature, can be enhanced even
more internationally by forging linkages with Filipino academic
institutions in the Ilocos region where at least 85% of the Hawai‘i
Filipinos came from originally. Such links would lead to a broad
framework in which viable cultural, educational, and economic exchanges
could be undertaken. These exchanges could take the form of traditional
study abroad, faculty exchange, as well as utilizing present-day distance
education technology thereby creating a truly global classroom for
students and faculty in both locales.